Short-circuiter for reversed spark-generators.



T. E. MADDEN. SHORT GIRGUITER FOR REVERSED SPARK GENERATORS. APPLICATION FILED APR.4,1910.

1,027,388. Patented May 21, 1912.

q 814mm fox W Thomas E. Madden omega,

. specification.

THOMAS E. MADDEN, OF INDIANAPOLIS,

INDIANA, ASSIGNOR TO HIMSELF AND JESSE C. HANCOCK, OF INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA, A COPARTNERSHIP.

SHORT-CIRCUITER FOB REVERSED SPARK-GENERATORS.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, Tnouas E. citizenof the United States, residing at indianapolis, in the county of Marion and State of Indiana, have invented a new and useful Short-Circuiter for Reversed Spark- Generators, of which the following is a In the operation of starting gas engines, especially of themulti-cylinder type commonly used in automobiles, it often happens that the operator fails to carry the parts to and beyond the highest compression point with suflicient speed but,.instead, will permit a backward movement just before the highest compression is reached. .lVhenever such an operation occurs a spark is likely to be produced whichwill fire the compressed charge within a cylinder and thus produce a backward rotation of the engine and a consequent liability of injury to the operator, by breaking an arm, etc. i

The object of my invention to provide means by which a production of spark within the cylinder during a backward movement is prevented, the arrangen'ientbeing preferably so? as to insure a short circuiting of the higi tension current upon a backward movement of the engine.

The accompanying drawings illustrate my in vention, largely in a diagrannnat-ic way, as applied to a magneto spark generator of a well-known type, Fig. 1 being an end elevation; Fig. 2 a fragmentary section, and Fig. 3 a wiring diagram. It is to be understood, however, that this invention is fully as applicable to any other form of sparkproducing mechanism:

In the drawings, 10 indicates the rotor of the generator carrying a terminal plate 11 the arc-shaped edge of which is caused to ,travel closely ad acent the several spark circuit breaker plug terminals 12 in succession. This termi nal plate 11 rotates in a chamber 13 into which the terminals 12 are projected and the chamber is closed by a removable cap 14: which carries a spring pressed brush 1:) adapted to continuously engage plate 11. The brush 15 is carried by the terminal 16 which leads. to one end of the high tension side of the spark coil 17, the other end being grounded at 18 in,the usual manner. A 2l,with its usual connections in the low tension circuit 22, is of course provided and is operated by the rotor of the Specification of Letters Patent. Application filed April 4, 1910.

hjlaoonu, a tion is that Patented May 21', 191?. Serial No. 552,313.

generator. Up tothis point the construccon'nnonly found in magneto spark generators and my invention has added the following parts:

Plate 11 is provided with a terminah point 2 3 which is projected from any desired part of the plate so as to travel successively in close proximity to a. series of terminals 24 which are carried by cap 14-. As many of these terminals are provided as there are terminals 12 and all oi the terminals 24 are connected together and grounded. These terminals are so arranged with relation to the terminals 12 that. a ro tation of the rotor 10 in the direction opposite to that indicated by the arrow in Fig. 1 will bring finger 23 closely adjacent a terininal at the time when the circuit breaker will be opened by the consequent movement of the cam 25 in the direction opposite to that indicated by the arrow associated therewith, so that at this time of break of the low tension circuit, which would under ordinary conditions result in the production of a spark in the cylinder because of the close proximity of plate 11 withone of the terminals 12, the high tension circuit will be short circuited and thus prevent the production of a spark within the cylinder in which a compressed charge has been produced. By this arrangement all possibility of back firing will be prevented. On the regi'ilar forward stroke the breaking of the circuit by the circuit. breaker will occur at. a time when linger 23 lies between the two terminals 2 t and at such distance from either one of the ter minals 24- that there can be no passage of current so that. on. the forward or regular rotation of the rotor, there is no short ciu cuiting action by tinger 2 3.

I claim as my invention I Thecombination with a generato". con nected sparking terminals. and a circuit breaker designed to rotate normally in one direction. of short circuiting means associated therewith For short circuiting the sparking terminals on reverse n'lovcment oi the circuit breaker at the time of circuit breaking action of the circuit breaker.

2. The combination of a low tension generator, a spark coil having its low tension coil connected to the generator, a circuitbreakcr operated by the generator and arranged in the low tension circuit, a circuit controller operated by the generator, a spark plug, connections between the circuit controller, spark plugand high ten-- {foil coil of the spark coil, and means for short circuiting the high tension c ireuit away from the spark plug upon reverse movement of the generator at the time of circuit breaking action of the circuit breaker, said short circuiting means comprising a member controlled by the gen-- erator.

3. The combination of a generator, a spark coil, connections between the generator and low tension side of the spark coil, connections comprising a circuit breaker controlled by the generator, a circuit controller, a spark plug, vconnections between said circuit controller, spark plug and the high tension side of the spark coil, a short circuiting terminal carried by the controller, and a grounded terminal arranged adjacent the path of movement of said short circuiting terminal in position to short circuit the high tension-circuit around the spark plug at the time of circuit breaking action of the circuit breaker upon reverse movement of the circuit controller.

4. The combination of a generator, and circuit breaker for normal rotation in one direction, a spark plug, a transformer, and

electrical. connections between the several parts, of a short-circuiter for the high tension side of the transformer, and operating connections between said short circuiter and circuit breaker for short-circuiting the high tension circuit at the time of circuit breaking action of the circuit breaker on reierse rotation of the circuit breaker.

5. Th'e'combin'ation with a spark plug, a current producer, a transformer, and a cir- 40 cuit breaker normallymovble in one direction, of a short 'circuiter operated in synchronism With the circuit breaker to short circuit the spark plug on reverse movement of the circuit break'er.

6. The combination with a spark plug, a current producer,'a transformer, and a circuit breaker normally movable amine direction, of a short circuiter,operated in synchronism with the circuit breaker to short circuit-the spark'plug from the transformer on reverse movement of the'circuit breaker.

In Witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal at Indianapolis,Indiana, this thirtieth day'of March, A. D. one thousand nine hundred and ten.

THOMAS E. -hlrtlJDlGhl. [us] Witnesses:

' Jnssn C. HANCOCK,

Anrn'un M; Econ. 

